Election 2012: Incumbent Hackett holds off DeMarco to keep 161st seat

State Representative Joe Hackett cited a poll last week that showed his race in the 161st District against Larry DeMarco was a toss-up.

"One percent was the last I heard," said the Ridley Township Republican. "I have no idea whether that's accurate."

It wasn't but Hackett still had some tense moments Tuesday night before pulling ahead of the Nether Providence Democrat. He was leading 53-47 percent with 97 percent of the returns in.

"I was close to having a stroke," Hackett said with a laugh. "I'm happy that they gave me a chance to represent them for another two years."

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On a day when Barack Obama's coattails were dragging many Democrats to victory in Pennsylvania, Hackett held his ground across the district,

"Ridley Township definitely brought it home and I was very thankful for that," he said. "We ran strong in some areas of Radnor, Brookhaven was a good win and Aston was huge."

DeMarco was devastated by the outcome.

"It was much, much worse than I expected," he said. "I completely expected victory or if it was close, an agonizing, by-a-nose loss. For it to be this wide was just not what I expected."

A Philadelphia attorney, DeMarco moved to Wallingford in 2008 and made a run for Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in 2011. He sunk more than $40,000 of his savings into his race against Hackett and knocked on more than 16,000 doors.

"The biggest difference between this race and the judicial race was having a much better shot," DeMarco said. "I don't want to say the judicial race didn't count but I almost went through it alone. This race I had a consulting group and and a lot of help and based on all the research and the polling it looked very good.

"That's why this result feels like a cold bucket of water."

Hackett said he was shocked by his party's poor showing in Pennsylvania.

"I was surprised my numbers did a lot better than many others on my side of the ticket," said the Ridley Township Republican. "I was especially surprised by the statewide numbers. I think people in my district appreciate a guy who came from the streets who is willing to go across the aisle to work to get things done."

DeMarco claimed his race was more against the Delaware County Republican Party than Hackett.

"With all due respect to Joe, I feel like I'm dealing with the Republican machine and that Joe is an operative of that machine," he said. "I think Joe believes in education the way that I believe in education. I think Joe believe in taxing the Marcellus Shale the way I want to.

"The difference is that Joe can't vote the way he wants to and I could have. That's why I ran."

A former Ridley Township Police officer and county detective, Hackett said he never could have envisioned a night like Tuesday night even five years ago.

"Not at all," he said. "In 2007 I was still very happy fighting crime and evil on the streets," he said. "And then this opportunity presented itself and my faith tells me when those doors open you walk through them."

The 161st District encompasses all of Brookhaven, Rutledge and Swarthmore and parts of Aston, Marple, Nether Providence, Newtown, Radnor, Ridley Township, Springfield and Upper Providence.